Cairo receives shipment of advanced anti-aircraft missile system from Russia, marking first deployment of long-range interceptor in Middle East.Egyptian and Russian media outlets have been reporting that an advanced Russian surface-to-air missile system, the S-300, has arrived in the Middle East. The Egyptian military has likely already commenced deployment of the long-range anti-aircraft batteries across the North African country. The S-300, the Russian version of the American Patriot system, is capable of intercepting aircraft at a range of up to 200 kilometers and a variety of altitudes simultaneously. The reported shipment marks the weapon system's first introduction to a country sharing a border with Israel. It is unclear whether Israel took a position for or against the Egyptian procurement from Russia and it is possible that Jerusalem abstained from expressing a particular opinion. Nevertheless, the deployment of the advanced S-300 to the Middle East creates a difficult dilemma for the Israeli air force – which will now face an anti-aircraft missile system which covers more of the region than ever before. Israel and the US pressured the Russian government to cancel its shipment of the surface-to-air missiles to Iran and Syria – even after Moscow signed procurement contracts with the two regional powers – because their deployment would damage Jerusalem's air superiority and the deterrence of the Israeli air force. Leading defense weekly Jane's reported back in October 2014 that Egypt wanted to purchase a S-300M system (with an operational range of 200 kilometers). The deal was reportedly worth half a billion dollars and agreed upon in an August 2014 meeting between Egyptian President Sisi and Russian President Putin in Sochi. During that time the US administration had placed an arms embargo on Egypt because of Sisi's treatment of the Muslim Brotherhood. In that period the Americans saw Sisi as responsible for a military coup which overthrew the Brotherhood's elected government. Russia seized the distancing between the US and Egypt to restore its proximity to Cairo using foreign aid – and to sell its anti-aircraft system while exploring further deals for its warplanes. The warming relations between the two nations reached their peak when Putin visited Egypt in February, when the purchase of the missile system was finalized and shipments were initiated – in accordance with Egypt's ability to keep up with payments to Moscow.

Meanwhile – and in spite of the financial crisis engulfing Egypt – Cairo also agreed in February a 3 billion euro deal with French manufacturer Dassault for the purchase of 24 Rafale jets.

This deal was also spurred by the American embargo following a delay in its supply of F-16 warplanes and Apache helicopters – for which Egypt had already paid in full. Next year, Cairo will receive the first of two submarines purchased from Germany to replace its aging Chinese-made fleet which was built in the 1970s.

Dr. Marwan Abu Ras, the rapporteur of the Legal Committee in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), said that the Egyptian court's ruling to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization is against the International Law.

Abu Ras explained in an interview with the PIC on Thursday that the International Law recognizes the legitimacy of the resistance and its right to defend itself, and added that it is a non-judicial decision as it is not based on evidence and arguments.

He pointed out: "The Egyptian court made the decision in the absence of the accused party and its representative in absolute disregard to the simplest judicial procedures." He continued: "I have never heard of a court for urgent matters in any country except in Egypt, and we don't know anything about its judicial procedures which seem to be tailored to serve the interests of its owners."

"The verdict is an attempt to incite the western world against the resistance, because the word "terrorism" provokes the western world," he charged, adding: "this ruling will lead to list Hamas as one of the terrorist organizations that must be defeated like ISIS and others."

A national crime

Abu Ras further said: "Dealing with Hamas as a terrorist organization is a religious and national crime at all levels, because this decision is consistent with the Israeli occupation’s plans and interests, and that was very obvious in all the Israeli officials' statements on this unjust verdict." He added: "this decision is a betrayal of the Palestinian people and the resistance by all standards."

"Aziz Dweik, the PLC speaker, many ministers, and Hamas leaders are detained in the Israeli jails, is that because they are terrorists? This is a stab in the back of all Palestinians because Hamas supporters are everywhere and in every home in Gaza, in the West Bank and in refugee camps; however, this verdict will not weaken Hamas but rather it will be stronger as most Palestinians and Egyptians support it,” he underlined, adding that a survey showed that 95% of the Egyptians support Hamas and do not consider it a terrorist organization.

Commenting on the role of the Palestinian government, Abu Ras said: "The Palestinian government is contributing to the Gaza blockade, and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman, supported all the Egyptian procedures concerning the closure of the Rafah crossing, the blockade, destroying the tunnels and fabricating charges of invading the Egyptian jails.”

He called on the Free World, the Egyptian people and organizations to reject this verdict, and highlighted that Hamas will never intervene in the Egyptian interior affairs, saying: "Egypt must know that Israel is a common enemy of Egypt, Hamas and the Muslim and Arab Nation."

Abu Ras finally declared: "Hamas will continue to resist the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian lands and its only enemy has been and will always be the Israeli occupation."

Iran has reacted strongly after the Cairo court of urgent matters blacklisted the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas as a “terrorist” organization.

A consortium of Iranian institutions and official bodies said the Egyptian verdict serves the interests of the Israeli occupation, only, calling on the Cairo authorities to rescind the biased decree.

151 members in the Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly condemned, in a statement issued Wednesday, the verdict, pointing out Iran’s pro-Palestine position and its unyielding back-up of Islamic resistance movements in their struggle against the Israeli occupation.

In the meantime, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham also condemned the court decision and cautioned Cairo to avoid moves which could pave the ground for the Israeli regime's misuse.

“Hamas is a popular resistance movement fighting the Israeli occupation and pursuing a clear path and approach,” she added.

The parliament's Palestine and Islamic Resistance bloc also issued a similar statement condemning the blacklisting of Hamas by Cairo and urged Egypt to stand by Palestinians.

The ruling is a dangerous move of hypocrisy falsifying the truth and undermining the values respected by the Islamic Nation, the statement read.

The measure cannot be accepted by any freedom-seeking person, especially people's representatives in the Islamic and revolutionary country of Iran, it added.

A chain of separate statements issued by Iran-based pro-Palestine associations, meanwhile, lashed out at Cairo’s designation of Hamas as terrorist.

The al-Aqsa Foundation voiced in a statement Iran’s support of the Hamas resistance fighters, dubbing the Egyptian court ruling a real “shame” and a "farce” that stands in sharp contrast to the essence of Hamas’s heroic history.

Israeli travel agencies said they would resume organizing tourist trips
to Egypt after a four-year cessation that started following the January
25 revolution that had ousted former president Hosni Mubarak.

According to travel agents, the first batch of Israeli tourists will
arrive in Egypt on the second day of the Jewish Passover holiday at the
beginning of next April in coordination with the Egyptian authorities.

Israeli tourists stopped visiting Egypt in 2011 when their foreign
ministry and counter-terrorism authority had issued warnings in the wake
of the unstable security situation that took place in the country as a
result of the revolution.

Although the security situation became worse under the rule of the
current Egyptian leadership, the Israeli tourism authorities said they
allowed local travel agencies to organize trips to Egypt after they
received pledges from Cairo to provide Israeli tourists with exceptional
protection measures.

Haneyya stressed the group’s implementation of a policy of non-interference regarding Egyptian and Arab home affairs, saying Egypt’s national security is just as important as Palestine’s.

The senior Hamas leader said his Movement stands at the same distance from all Egyptian parties.

Haneyya further briefed Sabeih on current endeavors to boost up the national reconciliation process.

For his turn, Ambassador Sabeih, Assistant Undersecretary for Palestinian and Occupied Arab Lands Affairs, said the Arab League does not recognize the legitimacy of the Egyptian court verdict blacklisting Hamas as a terrorist group.

Political bureau member of Hamas, Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, meanwhile, called on the central council of the Palestine Liberation Organization and on the Palestinian Authority Chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, to keep tabs on the tensions rocking the Palestinian-Egyptian ties.

“Egypt’s interests and Palestine’s are one and the same. They are just indivisible. Any Palestinian-Egyptian discord will serve the Israeli occupation, only,” he added.

Senior leader in Hamas Movement Ismail Radwan said Wednesday that his group is wisely working on tackling the implications of the Egyptian court’s ruling to list it as a terrorist organization.

Speaking to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC), Radwan stated that Hamas is working to address the Egyptian ruling’s implications with wisdom through Egyptian and non-Egyptian parties.

Radwan strongly condemned the Egyptian Minister of Justice Mahfouz Saber's recent statements that “provide a political cover to an unfair court order which exceeded all red lines and the strategic Palestinian-Egyptian relationship.”

The court ruling was a politicized decision, he added, ruling out the possibility of prosecuting Hamas in Egypt especially that “the group has no offices or any properties on the Egyptian territories.”

Hamas is a national liberation movement that no country has the right to interfere in its affairs or resistance against Israeli occupation which constitutes the movement’s sole concern, Radwan said.

He pointed out that the Egyptian minister’s statements would strain the already tense relationship between Hamas and Egyptian authorities.

The Egyptian Minister of Justice Mahfouz Saber told Ahramonline website that “Hamas has been labeled as a terrorist organization which is dangerous to the Egyptian national security. Thus, its members in Egypt will be arrested and its funds along with headquarters will be confiscated”.

On the other hand, the senior Hamas official said that his group is ready for the elections, calling on PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to issue the decree for holding the elections as it was agreed upon in Cairo and al-Shati agreements.

Abbas has earlier declared that as soon as Hamas sends him a written official approval, he will immediately issue a decree calling for elections.

Radwan expressed his Movement’s total rejection of Abbas’s adherence to the negotiation approach with the occupation, warning of talks’ resumption.

He also criticized Abbas’s indifferent position towards the Egyptian ruling over Hamas Movement and incitement against Palestinian resistance.

Assistant Arab League Secretary General for Palestine Affairs Ambassador Mohamed Sabeih said on Wednesday the Arab League is not concerned with the recent Egyptian court ruling designating Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, a “terrorist organization”.

"The Arab League doesn't take positions based on rulings by local courts in any country," Ambassador Sabeih told reporters. "I think it's inappropriate to deal with a strategic issue through a local court ruling. Such issues should be addressed by a joint Arab action," he highlighted.

He stressed that “the UN charter stipulates that peoples under occupation have the right of resistance to restore their legitimate rights. Palestinian resistance is not terrorism under international law”, Sabeih added.

On Saturday, the Egyptian court for Urgent Matters designated Hamas a “terrorist” organization and outlawed all of its activities in Egypt. This verdict followed a previous similar ruling that labeled Ezzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, as a “terror” group, just one month ago.

The Egyptian Minister of Justice Mahfouz Saber said, earlier on Wednesday, “Hamas has been labeled as a terrorist organization which is dangerous to the Egyptian national security. Thus, its members in Egypt will be arrested and its funds along with headquarters will be confiscated”.

Hamas, for its part, considered Mahfouz’s statement as an endorsement of the “big sin” committed by the Egyptian court against the Palestinian resistance.

The Egyptian Minister of Justice Mahfouz Saber said that a government committee will start confiscating all properties and funds of Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, after being labeled “terrorist organization”.

Mahfouz told Ahramonline website that “Hamas has been labeled as a terrorist organization which is dangerous to the Egyptian national security. Thus, its members in Egypt will be arrested and its funds along with headquarters will be confiscated”.

“The government will not appeal the (court) verdict against Hamas which means it is enforceable”, the minister elaborated.

For its part, Hamas denied, more than once, its interference in the internal affairs of any Arab country including Egypt. The Egyptian court ruling labeling Hamas as a terrorist organization was censured by many Palestinian and Arab officials and parties.

Hamas Movement said in a statement released Tuesday night that whoever issued the court ruling against it knows very well that he stands in confrontation with all the Islamic Nation.

Spokesman for the Movement Hossam Badran called on his group’s supporters all over the world to stand firmly against the unfair decision that lists Hamas as a terrorist organization.

One month after its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades was designated a terror group by the Egyptian court for urgent matters in Cairo, the same court last Saturday ruled the Hamas Movement itself a terrorist organization.

The popular and online campaigns organized in support of the Movement and in protest against the Egyptian ruling prove its deep popularity within Palestine and the Arab world, he said.

Online campaigns were waged while massive marches were organized in Gaza and a number of Arab capitals in rejection of the Egyptian court ruling.

Anouar al-Gharbi, Former foreign affairs adviser to the president of Tunisia, slammed on Tuesday the recent Egyptian court verdict blacklisting Hamas as a terrorist organization, branding the decision as “serious” and unfit for a national liberation movement.

Al-Gharbi said, in a written statement, unless appealed and rescinded, the Egyptian court ruling shall turn against its makers.

“We know very well that Hamas has always been keen on non-interference in the Egyptian and Arab home affairs,” he said, adding, “The Egyptian authorities had earlier failed to plead their case and to persuade the world that Muslim Brotherhood is a terror group.”

“Egypt is supposed to have stood at the same distance from Palestinian political parties and stand up for the resistance in its legitimate fight for freedom,” he stated.

Al-Gharbi further spoke out against the mounting ad hominem campaigns launched against Hamas via Egyptian and Arab media outlets.

For its part, the Moroccan Committee for the Defense of the Nation’s Causes condemned the Egyptian court decision, branding it “biased” and “unfair.”

The committee called on the Egyptian “coup” authorities to reverse the verdict, saying it only serves Israel.

“Resistance is the only means to restore the Palestinian land and defend Islamic holy shrines,” the statement read, calling on the Moroccan authorities to take a tougher line against the pro-Israel positions pursued by the Egyptian government and back up Hamas all along its national liberation struggle.

The committee urged the Egyptian authorities to unblock the Rafah border crossing permanently and lift the noose tightened around Gazans' necks.

“The verdict fell at a time the Israeli killing, forcible deportation tactics, Judaization plots, and blockade policies are still perpetrated against the Palestinian people,” the committee said, recalling the murder of hundreds of civilian Palestinians in last summer’s Israeli offensive on besieged Gaza as the most conclusive proof of Israel’s barbarism.

“However, Hamas, along with other Palestinian resistance factions, has dealt a heavy blow to the Israeli invasion forces, like nobody else has done so far throughout the entire history of the Arab-Israeli fight,” the Moroccan committee maintained.

Ismail Haneyya, Deputy Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau, said the Cairo Court ruling to designate Hamas a terrorist organization runs contrary to the Egyptian constants which perceive resistance as national liberation movements. He disclosed that contacts are being made to modify what he called the “historical deviation”.

This came during Haneyya’s speech at the funeral of one of Hamas founders Sheikh Hammad Hasanat at noon Tuesday. Hanneyya mentioned the virtues of Sheikh Hasanat and his long history of serving the Islamic Dawa and Hamas Movement over the past years.

Hanneyya highlighted the fact that Sheikh Hasanat received his education at the Egyptian universities, pointing to the good relations between Egypt and the Gazan people for a long time.

“We cannot even imagine such a ruling to come out of an Egyptian court. It is contrary to the Egyptian constants. We are addressing that with much patience and wisdom. Contacts are ongoing to fix such a historical deviation”, he said.

Senior Islamic Jihad official Khaled al-Batesh said that his Movement's efforts in Cairo go in line with the national positions of the Hamas Movement and are aimed to serve the Palestinian interests.

In press remarks to the Palestinian Information Center on Tuesday, Batesh stated that the Islamic Jihad did not launch any initiative, but it moved to ease the severe tension that had afflicted the Egyptian-Palestinian relations after the court of urgent matters in Cairo classified Hamas as a terrorist organization.

The Islamic Jihad official expressed his hope that his Movement's efforts could succeed in bridging the gap between the two sides and alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza.

He affirmed that the Islamic Jihad delegation to Cairo had stressed during its meetings with Egyptian officials that the humanitarian situation in Gaza became unbearable and asked Egypt to assume its moral and national responsibilities towards the Palestinians and take steps opposed to those taken by the Israeli occupation.

An Islamic Jihad source had said yesterday that the proposals that the delegation of his Movement tabled during its meetings with Egyptian officials and member of Hamas's political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk in Cairo were intended to solve the crisis of the Rafah border crossing and revive the Egyptian-sponsored Palestinian reconciliation talks.

The verdict is based on the same principle that has been used by Israel to distort resistance movements for decades, Hizb ut-Tahrir said in a press release.

The court ruling provides a justification for Israeli attacks on Gaza, the statement further pointed out.

The statement warned of the serious implications of the ruling in light of the continued Israeli threats to Gaza along with the Egyptian media incitement campaign against Gaza.

Hizb ut-Tahrir highlighted that the ruling poses more pressures on Gaza and provides a political cover for Israeli crimes against the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Palestine Scholars Association in Lebanon strongly condemned the Egyptian court’s ruling against Hamas, describing it as a violation of Islamic Sharia. It (the Egyptian ruling) only serves the Israeli enemy, the association said.

"It is a cheap political decision and a desperate attempt to terrorize the Palestinian people", according to the statement.

Palestine Scholars Association considered the verdict as a declaration of war, warning of any attempt to deal a military strike to Gaza.

Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, and Deputy Head of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Heneyya, spoke over the telephone afternoon Monday and discussed ongoing talks with the Egyptian leadership.

According to a statement issued by Haneyya’s office, the two leaders stressed the strategically important nature of the Palestinian-Egyptian ties and the need to prop up the historical tenets of such a relationship.

Haneyya acclaimed the efforts made by the Islamic Jihad leaders, saying they rather “stem from a national commitment.”

Senior Islamic Jihad leader, Khaled al-Batesh, said, meanwhile, that Shallah called Haneyya with intents to seek advice on possible ways-out from the current crises surfacing on the Palestinian socio-political arena.

Shallah is expected to make a phone call with the Palestinian Authority Chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, to that very end, Batesh remarked.

Earlier, a couple of days ago, a delegation of senior Islamic Jihad officials, headed by Shallah, arrived in Cairo in an attempt to reduce tensions sparked by a recent Egyptian court ruling branding Hamas a terrorist organization, just a few weeks after the group’s armed wing was given the same designation.